THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates

Nov 28 [1939]

Dearest Ann

It was most refreshing to us to see you – How could you think otherwise – There couldn’t ever be a moment when it wouldn’t be a joy to see you – but especially in this time when friendship means more than ever before.
About Ralph – I would love him to visit you in a sense – because I realize, as he can’t possibly do, what a support he can be – & a change from Dorking day in & day out would be good for him – But his feeling is that his public life is best spent just now in writing what he can & not in public appearances and that his private life should be devoted to his home town.  Thus it is.¹
Our love
Yrs

AMVW

1.  At the time VW was deeply engaged in raising money for the Dorking Refugee Committee – see RVW p.229 ff. This letter reflects well the atmosphere of emergency in the early months of the Second World War.